The Key, March 2023 Edition

Kristian Francis, a junior from Frederick, Md., has always had a passion for anything business related.

As a high-schooler, she would attend summer accounting camps, which furthered her interest in the field. Ultimately, her path would lead her to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where she is not only pursuing a major in business administration but is also a member of the campus chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants.

So, when the opportunity to put her business acumen to the test by participating in the HBCU-Start Competition arose, the junior jumped at that chance.

That initiative would ultimately pay off as she and her team placed first in the residential program for aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups sponsored by the University of Miami Herbert Business School.

Francis attributed finding out about the competition to her professor, Dr. Leesa Thomas-Banks, who is also the chair of the Department of Business Management and Accounting.

“She sent me the opportunity, and so when I saw it, I was immediately intrigued by the opportunity,’” Francis said. “So, I applied for it not knowing whether I would be accepted because it seemed like it was a prestigious program. Luckily, I was accepted.”

Francis said the program, which took place over six days in early January, was set up in a boot camp format that included seminars from speakers in the fields of accounting, law, and other disciplines, culminating with the pitching of individual business plan projects, before ultimately teaming up with other members of the cohort to pitch a developed business plan.

The winning pitch that she was a part of was the idea for a “beauty vending machine” stocked with grooming essentials for women that would be distributed across all 106 HBCUs nationwide.

“There are beauty stores within proximity of different HBCU campuses, but a lot of them don’t have a reasonable price, and it lacks accessibility as well,” Francis said. “Also, a lot of incoming freshmen are not allowed to have vehicles on campus, so it was just a great segue for us to figure out what people need and that’s kind of how we determined what exactly we were going to pitch.”

Francis said the decision to go with the winning idea instead of possibly going with something else showed how important finding the most successful pitch was.

“I didn’t come in there wanting to overly do my idea,” she said. “When you get into a program like that, you have to be realistic about it. You can’t let your ego get in the way. I was in there to leave out of there with something.”

As a result, Francis was able to earn a share of the $5,000 prize with her teammates.

In addition to bringing home first place, Francis added that the experience awakened something dormant since her days of being a high school student.

“It was really a transformative experience,” she said. “I haven’t networked in a while so it just helped me get back out of my shell and really put myself out there.

“It also helps you figure out how to conduct yourself in a professional setting. So, regardless of what your major is, it would be helpful no matter what.”

‘It was a transformative experience’

Business administration major Kristian Francis places first at HBCU-Start program

Revived Honda Campus All-Star Challenge team relishes first season

Princaya Sanders was in a situation that would test anyone’s mettle.

The freshman rehabilitation science major at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore was in the midst of competition facing off against students from other Historically Black Colleges and Universities in a battle of knowledge and trivia.

“When you’re in the middle of a game situation it’s nerve-wracking but it’s fun, because you’re waiting for the next question,” she said. “But you’re also excited because you’re in a game. It’s fun and exhilarating.”

Sanders was one of eight UMES students who participated in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge program, which returned after a brief hiatus due to several influences including the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s team, coached by public relations director Earl Holland Jr. and Dr. Kawanda McCarthy-Williams, the Assistant Dean for Experiential Education and an assistant professor in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, was comprised of nine students - eight freshmen and one junior.

UMES has participated in the quiz bowl competition involving HBCUs from across the country since the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge’s inception in 1989. Over the years, the university has received more than $130,000 in grants from the Honda Motor Corporation.

Throughout the year, the students participated twice-weekly practices and a campus tournament open to all undergraduate students, and virtual scrimmages against other HBCUs to prepare for competition in one of six regional qualifying tournaments featuring schools from around the country.

This year, UMES competed in Honda’s National Qualifying Tournament hosted by Bowie State University in late February.

During that tournament, the Hawk quizzers matched wits with HBCU foes in a field of competition including Morgan State University, Howard Uni-

versity, Lincoln University, Cheyney University, Georgia-based Albany State University, Bowie State, and eventual tournament champion, the University of the District of Columbia.

“For these students to fare so well being majority freshmen and without having a template to follow really impressed me,” said Holland, who was a member of the team from 2001 to 2005 and a member of UMES’ national runner-up team in 2004. “Going into the tournament, we tried to keep the environment light while letting them know that with the right focus they could compete with anyone.”

UMES fielded two squads in the scholastic competition, with the varsity squad comprised of Sanders and fellow freshmen Kailey Wilson, Kevin Armstrong II, and Calvin Awkward, who was captain.

The junior varsity squad featured freshmen Andrew Boaston, Omarion Lopez, and Russell Berry, also a team captain, and junior Quinton Smith. Freshman manager Easla Wescott rounded out the team.

Awkward, a computer science major, said during his experience at the tournament he was surprised by how large of an involvement there was in the quiz competition.

“I thought it was way smaller, way less people, but there’s a lot of schools that are a part of it. It’s a lot bigger than I thought it was,” he said.

The varsity team went 1-3 in round robin competition, wrapping up play with a 250-220 victory against York College of Queens, New York. The junior varsity was competitive despite being unable to secure a win.

Falling short of its goal to clinch a berth in Honda’s National Championship Tournament in Los Angeles next month, Holland and the rest of the team took the disappointment in stride.

“Being a new program, we knew that this year was the season to get our sea legs, so to speak,” he said. “With a year under our belts and with the ability to grow the program, we’re looking to create consistent long-term success.”

Members of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Honda Campus All-Star Challenge quiz bowl team pose for a photo with Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta Hawkins Breaux during the Honda National Qualifying Tournament, which was hosted by Bowie State University at the CIAA Basketball Tournament on Feb. 25.

(Standing, L-R): Easla Wescott, Russell Berry, Quinton Smith, Kevin Armstrong II, Andrew Boaston, Calvin Awkward, Omarion Lopez, Princaya Sanders and Kailey Wilson; Seated left, coach Earl Holland and seated right, Dr. Kawanda McCarthy-Williams.

Career Fair Spring 2023

On Feb. 16, UMES’ Office of Career Services welcomed 80 corporations/government agencies and graduate /professional schools (158 recruiters) and 277 students to explore employment opportunities during the career fair in the Student Services Center.

“Career fairs offer numerous opportunities to UMES students. They are designed to provide students with the opportunities to explore career prospects, network, meet potential employers and practice professional behavior and conversation,” said Dr. Theresa Queenan, Director of Career Services.

“Each university fair offers a vast number of career options for students, such as internships, summer jobs and permanent employment for graduating seniors. A student who focuses on their career search, while also acquiring valuable skills as they look for experiences in their respective major, further enhances the student’s ability to acquire the skills necessary for entering a global workforce,” she said.

Black History Month Guests at UMES

On Feb. 23, an evening with the writer/activist Kevin Powell brought out students to a rich dialogue celebrating Black history and the importance of diversity in a democracy.

In a dual course speaking event Feb. 22 mixing DMST 200 Media in Today’s Society with DMST 440 African American Cinema, Monty Ross visited UMES virtually for a broad discussion on his background in filmmaking.

Starting with a presentation that covered his personal experience, Mr. Ross answered numerous student questions about the creation process, including creating content for your culture, being a part of a group and knowing how to choose your people, defining yourself what classes will help you develop as a creative and setting a standard that shows you take your work seriously.

Monty Ross was born in Omaha, Nebraska and began his filmmaking career as an acting student at Clark Atlanta University (formerly known as Clark College). There, Monty became friends with Spike Lee and a collective of classmates that loved film and television Jasmine Guy, Bill Nunn, and Samuel L. Jackson were among them. They were all just kids kickin’ it and following their dreams. Who knew they all would become successes in their own right. Monty would later co-found the legendary production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, with Spike Lee in the mid-80s. At 40 Acres, Monty co-produced School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Crooklyn, Malcolm X, and more. Not too bad for a kid from the Midwest. Today, Monty serves as President of Film and Production at Soulidifly Productions.

(L-R) Junior Anfernee Layne and senior Seth Thomas were able to discuss available opportunities with Lockheed Martin representatives.

(L-R) Sophomores Angel Mansfield and Laila Dent were among the students taking advantage of meeting face to face with potential employers.

Sophomore Sajheda Handy was assisted during check-in by student volunteer Joy Baker

inspire positive changes that will last

summer of study abroad in

BY CALEB CLARK

I will never forget the summer of 2022! This was the summer I studied at the University of Ghana as a Frederick Douglass Scholar.

It all started in my history class. Dr. Barrett-Gaines required all of us students to apply for the study abroad program. Since this was my first semester at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, I wanted to excel in my classes and completed the application. After I advanced to the final round of interviews, I got excited. My hopes were set on going to Ghana, the place of my maternal ancestors.

After the 14-hour airplane ride, I landed in Accra, the capital of Ghana. It was exciting to see beautiful Ghanaians everywhere, from the billboards to the merchants and pedestrians going about their business. I was finally here!

I stayed at an international youth hostel with people from London, Italy, Germany, and Japan. There was a sense of community among all of us even though we were from different countries and the local students made sure we all came downstairs to play games like Uno or charades every night.

Spending an extended period of time in another country was quite an experience. Ghanaians at the university were very comfortable in their surroundings in a manner similar to white people in America. Observing such a level of ease without having to deal with the constant feeling of being watched was refreshing. As a black man who has dealt with being unjustly questioned and racially profiled by police officers in America, I felt a level of comfort on an organic level as if I was actually respected because I was a human being.

The classes at the university were intellectually stimulating. I learned about the Atlantic Crossing and took trips to the beach where slaves were held before coming to America. The history of Ghana’s connection to the slave trade was deeply disturbing and has motivated me to become a more focused and disciplined student. I encourage all students to travel abroad because immersing oneself in another culture will inspire positive changes that will last a lifetime.

Caleb Clark was a freshman at the time of his study abroad experience. He is a track and field athlete majoring in English Education.

For information on specific study abroad programs and funding opportunities, contact UMES’ Center for International Education at oiss@umes.edu or call 410-651-8385

Caleb and other study abroad students photographed with a Ghanaian chief who visited with the class to discuss his role.

Caleb and his roommate Brian pose for a photo in Ghana.

“Immersing oneself in another culture will

a lifetime”

A

the nation of Ghana

celebrating Women’s History Month

MEET AAJAH HARRIS

Aajah Harris (’19), a native of Baltimore, Md., earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She also earned her master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice at UMES. During her time as a UMES student, she served as Student Government Association president, a hawk mentor, and the University System of Maryland Representative (2017-2018). She is a charter member of the Upsilon Sigma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Harris is employed in the Maryland House of Delegates as the Chief of Staff to Delegate Veronica Turner.

Q: What was your professional goal?

A: Graduating in 2019, my professional goal, at the time, was to be a civil rights attorney. That quickly changed. I, instead of going to law school, decided to get my master’s degree. In undergrad, however, is where I fell in love with politics. I knew that I would thrive in that field. Being the SGA president, my senior year, influenced me to pursue politics.

Q: What or who influenced you to pursue a career in government and politics?

A: UMES played a dynamic role in my career. My last year of my master’s program, Dr. O (everyone knows Dr. O) suggested that I be an intern in the Maryland General Assembly. I started my internship career in January of 2021. By December of 2021, I was hired as the Chief of Staff for a state delegate in Prince George’s County.

Q: Name three things you gained from your student experience at UMES.

A: UMES has molded me into the professional woman that I am today. Using UMES as a microcosm of a city, state, country, or the world, I was able to brush up and build my leadership skills. I was also able to have fun amongst my peers who had the same goal, in terms of higher education and professionalism.

Q: What advice do you have for someone looking to pursue a career in government and politics?

A: If I had to give advice to someone looking to pursue a career in the government/ politics field, I would tell them to just start. Start somewhere. Intern. Run for local offices. Work for politicians. You will get there soon enough, all you have to do is start

A Leader in Education: Principal Portia L. Bird

Portia E. Lovett Bird of Clarke County, Va. was the first female leader of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Bird became the first Black woman to lead an Historically Black College or University after taking on the leadership role at then Princess Anne Academy after her husband, the late Benjamin O. Bird, died in 1897. She would lead the institution for two years until her death at the age of 40 in 1899.

“No one in Princess Anne mourns her loss quite as much as the aged and the poor. Her well filled basket was often at the door of someone in need,” wrote Jacob Dunn, an instructor at the school during the Birds’ years of leadership.

A 1900 obituary in the Annual Minutes of the Delaware Conference detailed the reverence people had for Principal Bird, a soprano singer and mother of nine children: “As a teacher, she excelled, always making clear the subject in hand. As an instructor in special subjects, such as physiology and elocution, her equal is rare. She will always be remembered for her work in these departments.”

“What impressed her pupils most was the sincerity of her character and the dignity of her womanhood. She was born a queen, withal a woman. Her interest in the students never ceased.”

“She was their personal friend all of the time. No human power can estimate the influence which this queenly little woman has wielded and now wields in the homes, school houses, and churches within the bounds of this Conference.”

“Teaching was always in the bottom of my heart”

Hawk’s namesake is award-winning “Abbott Elementary” television series

There are several uses of the verb “teach,” the following are relative: to accustom to some action or attitude; to impart the knowledge of; to instruct by precept, example, or experience; and to make known and accepted.

These are the actions of Joyce Abbott (’83), a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), a retired educator and United States Army combat veteran.

“Teaching was always in the bottom of my heart,” said Abbott, the daughter of a former teacher’s aide. Abbott’s mother reached the milestone of her 101st birthday earlier this month. “I came from a very caring household. I did everything I had to do in school so there isn’t one who sticks out

in my early years,” said Abbott regarding influential educators.

There are two individuals at UMES who “stick out” to Abbott, business and economics professor Dr. Abdalla and associate professor of music and director of the Soul Explosion Marching Band Rev. Kenneth A. Martin Sr.

“He went above and beyond to explain things. He believed that you could do this. He was very encouraging,” she said about Abdalla.

“He used to get on us continually about doing the right thing. He taught us life lessons. He made sure we were on the right path and if he heard something was wrong, he got on you just like he was a parent,” she said about Martin.

The Philadelphia native researched in the library about HBCUs before deciding that UMES was the place for her. “I really liked

Abbott surprised her former student, Quinta Brunson, during Brunson’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last year.

Joyce Abbott at the University of Maryland

Eastern Shore in 1983 (J.T. Williams Hall in background).

Dr. Abdalla

Rev. Kenneth A. Martin Sr.

some things that I saw about Maryland Eastern Shore and I went down to visit and I really liked it,“ Abbott said. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1983. During her time at UMES, she was a majorette in the Soul Explosion Marching Band.

After serving in the U.S. Army for a decade, 10 months of that period in combat during the Persian-Gulf War, Abbott entered one of the early cohorts of the ”Troops to Teachers” program earning her master’s degree in education.

“Being the youngest of eight and most of my siblings went to college, I didn’t even know if college was for me. As a result of going to UMES, it made you believe in yourself, the staff encouraged the student body and really wanted to see you succeed. It was a good foundation for the beginning of my professional career because if I had not been successful there, I would not have been successful anywhere else,” Abbott said on the “very influential“ role of UMES in her life.

Abbott’s career in classrooms in inner-city Philadelphia had great reach as her students have matriculated and moved on to careers including award-winning television production.

”Your hard work, sacrifice, and passion is not going unnoticed,” Abbott said about teaching and what she hopes people take away from her story. “It’s not going to go unnoticed. To be impactful in the life of one child, you’ve made a difference in this world.”

Abbott’s work in the classroom also reached outside the classroom as she and her students worked hard to organize a specific experience where her students travelled by limousine to an upscale restaurant in Philadelphia for a fine dining experience.

Abbott’s work was noted by her sixth-grade student Quinta Brunson, daughter of an educator who went on to earn a following on social media for her comedy and content creation and is now the creator and star of the award-winning television series “Abbott Elementary” on ABC Network. Brunson named the fictional public school in the tv series in honor of Abbott. Included among the multiple awards earned by “Abbott Elementary” (ABC Network) is the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (2022), the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series- Musical or Comedy (2022), and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (2023).

“I was shocked. I was humbly honored. It’s beginning to really sink in. I don’t think any teacher could imagine something like this because they pour in so

much of their time and their life into their student population. To have something like this is really an honor,” Abbott said.

Providing advice to those who may be considering a career in education, Abbott says “You really have to have a passion for it. It’s not about summers off with pay. It requires a lot of work and when you are truly passionate, it’s really not looked at as work because its’s your passion and you’re determined to make a difference.”

In recognition of Women’s History Month, Abbott says her mother and a young Black first-year principal named Fatima Smith are among the ladies whom she holds in high regard and appreciates their influence.

Abbott retired last year after a career spanning nearly 30 years in education both in the classroom and in administration within Philadelphia schools.

This content is published in recognition and celebration of Women’s History Month.

Quinta Brunson and Abbott when she was a student in Abbott’s sixth-grade class.

Photos: Joyce Abbott and Jimmy Kimmel Live/ABC Network

Hsia, Klima named Board of Regents’ Faculty Award recipients

Award winners to be recognized during April USM Board of Regents meeting

Two University of Maryland Eastern Shore faculty members were named recipients of this year’s University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty Awards, which honor excellence in the categories of mentoring, teaching, public service, scholarship or research, and creative activity.

Dr. Victor Hsia, of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, and Dr. Dennis Klima, in the Department of Physical Therapy, received the honors for excellence in creative activity and public service, respectively.

Drs. Hsia and Klima will be recognized along with the 17 other winners during a meeting of the Board of Regents on April 14 at Coppin State University.

“It’s a privilege each year to pay tribute to our outstanding faculty,” USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman said. “The impact of their teaching, their discovery, their scholarship and service simply can’t be overstated. That our winners have distinguished themselves among tens of thousands of their faculty colleagues across the System makes this a rare honor and proves just how meaningful are their accomplishments. I’m so grateful for their work.”

Dr. Hsia was recognized for his work in biomedical research, where he was the principal investigator on the first National Institutes of Health R01 grant awarded to UMES, and for his role in helping secure funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to create the STEM STARS program, which will address diversity, equity, and inclusion in support of STEM education and career readiness.

“I’m a little surprised, because it’s a very high honor and I did not expect to get it,” Dr. Hsia said. “I was encouraged by my colleagues to apply because they wanted to have a good example from the School of Pharmacy, especially the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, to be represented because they believed that I was doing good things and creative work for the school and the university.”

Dr. Klima received his award for his work in enhancing the safety and quality of life of older adults in Delmarva, while improving rehabilitation efforts internationally.

Those efforts include his local work as the chair of the Wicomico County Commission on Aging, working with the “Stepping On” falls prevention program, and work with adults with dementia as part of the Life Bridges Program in Salisbury.

Klima has also traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to present to physical therapists with a neuromuscular intensive workshop for patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury, and worked with physical therapists in Caribbean following Hurricane Maria.

“I think we’re really a hub for creativity and these kinds of public service activities,” Dr. Klima said. “And I think being here at UMES in conjunction with the rural surroundings it’s the perfect area to implement many of these outreach activities.

“I think the takeaway from this whole experience is that we need continue what we’re doing and expand upon it. There’s so much innovation that we can do, there’s so many folks in our geographic region that can be impacted.

Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the University System of Maryland Foundation.

DR. VICTOR HSIA

DR. DENNIS KLIMA

B.R.A.V.E. project initiative focuses on increasing awareness of dating violence

“The students created the scripts, so they know what things are in slang and what somebody would say in that scenario,” Cecilia Rivera, the associate director for prevention, education, training, and compliance at the OIE, said. “We filmed the videos on campus featuring student leaders. We have representation from Student Government, Greek Life, Athletics, and several other student organizations.”

Rivera added that with the inclusion of students in much of the creative aspect of the video, the message will resonate among the student population.

As dating violence becomes an issue on local and national campuses, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance looks to take a proactive stance on the subject with the implementation of its B.R.A.V.E. Program.

B.R.A.V.E., which stands for “Building Resistance Against Violence Engagement,” is an initiative “developed to raise awareness about, and ultimately end, dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” according to the OIE website.

UMES’s B.R.A.V.E. project was created in 2020 as a result of an Office on Violence Against Women Campus Program Grant from the United States Department of Justice. The grant helped establish and implement a Coordinated Community Response Team comprised of faculty, staff, students, and community partners. The OVW Campus Program Grant funds all programming, activities, and educational opportunities about gender-based violence prevention and facilitates other initiatives including the “It’s the consent for me” campaign.

As part of the on-campus initiative, the OIE created videos last semester centering on the issues of consent, stalking, dating violence and bystander intervention, written by and starring UMES students. The videos were produced by The Brand Digital Media, LLC

a minority-owned production company.

Introducing each video are Mr. UMES, Kamahri Valcourt and Miss UMES, Sydney Carr, who each saw the video as a great way to inform the student body.

“Some of the key takeaways I got from this experience filming the PSAs were that domestic and dating violence comes in various forms,” Valcourt said. “This experience has taught me how to properly intervene and help others. The choice to be an active bystander can change someone’s life forever.”

“Even with displaying such serious matters, using everyday verbiage and common actions that people often overlook in these instances, better helps students understand what is right and wrong especially in settings where people may not bat an eye to these actions until they escalate,” Carr said. “Let this be a guide to knowing the signs and helping others.”

Jason Caceres, the university’s Title IX Coordinator said when it came to the campus’s efforts in being intentional with its proactive nature, they are proud of the work they’ve done so far.

“We’re moving a needle,” he said. “Ultimately, the goal to eradicate sexual violence from everywhere, including this campus, but we’re certainly moving the needle towards that goal.”

of Salisbury,

Several UMES students who participated in the filming of promotional videos for the BRAVE Project pose for a crew picture outside of the Clusters.

Miss UMES Sydney Carr and Mister UMES, Kamarhi Valcourt film a segment for videos promoting the BRAVE Project.

Cecilia Rivera

Jason Caceres

Hill tops the field to become lower

Eastern Shore spelling bee champion

Eighth grader seals victory with “jambalaya” to earn the crown

As Evangelene Hill clinched the title of 2023 Maryland Eastern Shore Regional Spelling Bee winner, victory was the furthest thing from her mind.

The eighth grader from Wicomico Day School in Salisbury, who had spelled the word “jambalaya” to punch her ticket to represent the lower Eastern Shore in the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee later this spring, was feeling a different kind of emotion.

“I was hungry,” she said.

Hill was one of nearly 40 spellers from schools on the lower Eastern Shore who participated in the annual event and finished ahead of co-runners-up Thien Hoang, also of Wicomico Day School, and Alexander Brown of Bennett Middle School.

The first round of spelling saw five spellers bow out before the second round significantly reduced the field by another 17 spellers. Some of the eliminating words from that second round included “Bilbo,” “Merlin,” and “metrical.”

The third round, which featured the contestants matching the correct definition with the given word, went flawlessly as each student answered with the right answer.

The fourth round returned to the spelling of words, which turned the field of 17 remaining participants to 8. The cache of deciding words in round four included “altercation,” “memorandum,” “Kodak,” “versatile,” “recumbent,” and “peacenik.”

After five rounds, five competitors were left, leading to a thrilling round six featuring words such as “adolescence,” “conundrum,” and “avalanche.”

Starting at round seven, three spellers remained on stage

at the Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts – Brown, Hoang, and Hill.

After Brown and Hoang each missed their corresponding words, Hill ended the round by spelling “equivocate” before ultimately ending the competition by spelling the American Creole and Cajun dish.

Hill, who participated in the competition as a fifth grader, said as the event proceeded, things began getting tense especially with the thought of this year’s event being her final opportunity to participate.

“I definitely got more nervous as it went on,” she said. “… it ends in eighth grade, so I was thinking that this was my last chance.”

Photos: Joey Gardner

Hill posed for a photo with judges (L-R) Dr. Urban Wiggins, Honya VanMeter (Town of Princess Anne employee), Dr. Kate Brown and the bee after the March 4th competition.

Historic Season Ends for Men’s Basketball

The 2022-23 season was historic in every sense of the word for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball team.

The Hawks finished the year at 18-13, with the best win percentage (.581) since the 27-2 team in the 1973-74 season, 50 years ago. The winning season was just the fourth for the program since that ‘73-74 squad.

There was no better team in Division I in stealing the basketball. The Hawks ranked atop the nation in steals per game (11.1) and shattered the total steals and steals-per records they set a season ago. UMES also finished first nationally in turnovers forced per game, snatching 19.0 possessions from their opponents on average.

After facing teams like Duke and Virginia, the Hawks closed their non-conference slate with a bang. The Hawks defeated Temple and Columbia in consecutive road contests, before getting out to a 6-1 start in MEAC play; the best for the program at the Division I level in 50 years.

The Hawks defended the Hytche Athletic Center admirably this season, finishing with a 10-3 home mark. That is the best tally for the program at home since that 1973-74 season.

The team earned four weekly Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honors throughout the season. Nathaniel Pollard Jr. (Richmond, Virginia) and Zion Styles (Uniondale, New York) each received postseason acknowledgement, with the former making All-MEAC Second Team and the latter being named to the All-Defensive and All-MEAC Third Teams.

The 18 wins was the most in a season in head coach Jason Crafton’s head coaching career, and he was recognized as a finalist for the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award as well. The honor is given annually to the top minority head coach among Division I programs.

Pollard was also named to the 2023 HBCU All Star Game in Houston, Texas on March 13, 2023. The game will be played on April 2 along with other Final Four festivities. Pollard joined the Hawks after two seasons at Eastern Arizona Col-

lege. The forward started 57 of his 58 appearances with the team, scoring 541 points, collecting 434 rebounds and adding 96 assists and 83 steals.

UMES opened the MEAC Tournament with a win over Morgan State in the quarterfinals, just the program’s fourth win over the Bears in the conference tourney and the first since 2000.

The team parts with four graduate students and pillars of the 2022-23 team in Ahamadou Fofana (Bronx, New York), Tuka Nugent (Newburgh, New York), Styles, and Pollard.

“We did a great job this season of putting this program in a better place,” Hawks coach Jason Crafton said following the team’s loss to Howard. “These guys have given everything to this basketball program and I can’t say enough about what they’ve contributed.”

While the Hawks fell in the semifinals to eventual-champion Howard, the future is bright for Hawk men’s basketball.

“Through all the challenges, the guys found a way to stay together and keep this program moving forward,” Crafton said. “And that’s what we’re going to keep doing, is keep finding ways to continue building this thing.”

Nathaniel Pollard Jr. (#22) made All-MEAC Second Team.

CEI Events

Startup to Success Speaker Series & Lunch: Katey Evans, Frozen Farmer (As seen on Shark Tank)

Tuesday, April 4th: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

CEI Lecture Series: Business Financial Plans

Tuesday, April 6th: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Startup to Success Speaker Series & Lunch: TBD

Tuesday, April 11th: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

CEI Lecture Series: Business Plan Executive Summary

Tuesday, April 18th: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Startup to Success Speaker Series & Lunch: RJ Betts, Tip Tough (As seen on America’s Big Deal)

Thursday, April 20th: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For event details and to RSVP, visit umes.startuptree.co or email cei@umes.edu.

The Key / March 2023

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Inquiries regarding the application of Federal laws and non-discrimination policies to University programs and activities may be referred to the Office of Equity & Compliance/Title IX Coordinator by telephone (410) 651-7848 or e-mail (titleix@umes.edu).

Submissions to The KEY are preferred via email. All copy is subject to editing. The Key is written according to the Associated Press stylebook.